All Blacks test all go after Welsh peace deal

HAMILTON - The All Blacks' November 7 test against Wales has been safeguarded following a long-awaited peace deal between the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) and the country's four professional regions.

The five-year agreement will bring to an end months of infighting between the WRU and Regional Rugby Wales (RRW) over player release and funding.

RRW had threatened high court action against the WRU over releasing players for the All Blacks test, which has been arranged outside the official International Rugby Board window.

WRU chief executive Roger Lewis and his RRW counterpart Stuart Gallacher have brokered the deal which ensures player release for up to 13 Wales tests a year and two further non-international tour games as well as seeing funding for the regions increased from £3.6 million ($8.6 million) a year to £6 million ($14 million).

Players will be released by the Cardiff Blues, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets 13 days before the start of the autumn internationals and Six Nations. It will be monitored by a management board consisting of representatives from the four regions and the WRU.
In addition the two parties agreed the regions' matchday squads would contain on average a minimum of 17 players qualified to play international rugby for Wales.

The Wales Sevens team, who shocked the game by winning the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai, will also be officially contracted.

- NZPA